Joe Borowski cashed in on his first season as a closer, agreeing Thursday to a two-year contract with the Cubs worth $4.3 million. Borowski earned $410,000 last year.
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT: Michelle Wie, believed to be the youngest player ever on the PGA Tour at 14, made three birdies in a respectable round of 2-over 72 at the Sony Open in Honolulu.
MCENROE REVISED: John McEnroe says that his statement about taking steroids in recent publications was misunderstood, saying the drugs he took were given as painkillers.
ICE TRAINING: Craig Anderson has gotten his game on track in Norfolk, Va., while Michael Leighton has struggled, so the Blackhawks switched the two rookie goaltenders Thursday. Anderson was called up and likely will start Sunday.
BEEN THERE, HEARD THAT: Pete Rose admitted to a high school newspaper class in California that he’d gambled on baseball games in December 2002.
CHARGES IN HAWK’S DEATH: Retired NHL defenseman Rob Ramage was charged in Newmarket, Ontario, with driving with a blood-alcohol level over the legal limit in the crash that killed former Blackhawks player and coach Keith Magnuson.
HOT STOVE: The New York Mets and free-agent Karim Garcia reached a preliminary agreement on a contract, contingent on the outfielder passing a physical early next week.
Elsewhere:
Right-hander Adam Eaton agreed to a $5.25 million, two-year contract with the San Diego Padres.
IN THE NFL: Jets coach Herman Edwards got a two-year contract extension.
SEEDS OF CONTROVERSY? In an unusual move, Venus Williams was seeded third for the Australian Open, eight spots higher than her current world ranking.
BOX SET? The trainer for Lennox Lewis believes the heavyweight champion will fight Vitali Klitschko in a rematch that could occur as early as April 24.
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Compiled from RedEye news services.
